Leonard Davis’ job is on the line after benching

IRVING – Right guard Leonard Davis has been playing poorly all season, so it was no surprise that he got benched in the first half while the Cowboys were in the midst of giving up five sacks.

But all the blame can’t be placed on Davis’ broad shoulders. Sure, he was lousy, giving up two sacks. But right tackle Marc Colombo also got beat and running back Marion Barber’s inability to pick up the blitz contributed to one sack of Tony Romo. The rest of the line also had their issues.

Still, Davis is the story, especially after Montrae Holland filled in nicely until leaving the game in the second half with a right eye contusion that required four stitches and nearly closed his eye shut. When Holland went out late in the third quarter, Davis came back in.

It’s uncertain who will start next weekend at Minnesota.

“I didn’t play good,” said Davis, a Pro Bowl choice the last three seasons. “That’s all it was. I guess you can it was one of those days, but there is no way I can make excuses for what I do out on the field. They expect me to go out and execute plays and do a job and I didn’t do it. It was time for someone else to go out there and do the job…I wasn’t upset at them for doing it. It was all on me. I wasn’t performing. Point blank.”

Davis is the highest paid offensive lineman in club history. He’s in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49.6 million contract that included a whopping $16 million signing bonus.

“It was nothing personal,” Davis said. “I was frustrated with myself about it. It happened. They put Montrae in and he did a great job when he was in there. You can’t ask for anything more.”

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said he will evaluate tape Monday before deciding whether to go back to Davis or start Holland, provided his injured eye allows him to play.

“Leonard early in the ballgame was having a hard time with some of their inside pass rush,” offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. “We just felt at that time it was the right thing to do to give Montrae a chance to do that. He did a good job. He went in there and kind of stabilized it. Then, when Leonard had a chance to come back in, he played much better. I think it was the right thing to do, and both guys handled it well.”